Screening of Neuronal Ion Channels

In the past few years, electrophysiological techniques have developed rapidly, greatly advancing the study of ion channels. The process of measuring the action potential of neurons and a large number of different ion channels including fast ligand-gated ion channels by automatic patch clamp technology has been successfully established. Impedance and multi-electrode array measurements have also been proposed with good applicability in the study of neuronal cells. Creative Bioarray focuses on the latest advances in electrophysiological techniques for screening ion channel function and regulation to provide clients with ion channel screening services relevant to neuroscience. Our neuronal ion channel screening services include a range of central and peripheral nervous system neuronal assays utilizing native rodent tissue and human iPSC-derived neurons to help confirm compound effects in neuronal systems and accelerate neurotoxicity screening.

Fig. 1 Graphic representation of the expression of voltage-gated ion channels in different neuronal domains. (Child, 2014)

Neuronal Ion Channel Screening Services

A scientific team composed of excellent neuroscientists and electrophysiologists at Creative Bioarray provides clients with ion channel screening services related to neuroscience drug discovery in the research of peripheral and central nervous system targets and diseases. Our ion channel detection services include:

• Detection of ion channels in central nervous system neurons
  We help clients analyze a wide range of ion channel targets in the central nervous system of natural rodent tissues and humans, including nAChR, GABA_A receptor, P2XR, voltage-gated Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ channels, and other channels, through manual patch clamp, multi-electrode array (MEA), and other technologies.
• Detection of ion channels in DRG sensory neurons
  Peripheral sensory neurons from DRG express various voltage-gated ion channels, which are attractive targets for pain drug discovery. We help clients determine DRG sensory neuron ion channels through a variety of electrophysiological technologies to provide technical support in drug discovery programs.

Neurotoxicity Screening Services

Testing new candidate compounds in predictive neurotoxicity assay is very important for drug development. We use induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology in combination with biophysical technology that can detect the acute and chronic effects of candidate drugs under physiological conditions to help clients investigate neurotoxicity. We help clients effectively identify neurotoxic compounds by characterizing neuronal discharges before and after the addition of compounds, so as to provide strong support for early drug development.

• Detection of seizures in the central nervous system
• Detection of DRG peripheral neurotoxicity

Translated Neuroscience Detection Services

We provide our clients with neuronal testing services to validate drugs designed to treat pain, epilepsy, inflammation, and various neural disorders. We provide functional readouts from native tissue and human stem cell-derived iPS neurons to meet your specific translational neuroscience needs.

• Central neuronal firing detection
• Peripheral neuronal firing detection

Creative Bioarray has a scientific team with professional background knowledge and extensive experience in neuroscience drug discovery and neuron cell culture. We provide our clients with comprehensive solutions for neuronal ion channel screening to help them screen and evaluate neurotoxic compounds. If you are interested in our service, please contact us for more details.

Reference

1. Child, N. D.; Benarroch, E. E. Differential distribution of voltage-gated ion channels in cortical neurons: implications for epilepsy. Neurology, 2014, 82(11): 989-999.